12 days departing Adelaide

An adventure along the Kokoda Track is an experience not just a

holiday. The Kokoda Track is a journey into Australia's wartime history.

It is as important a part of Australian history as Gallipoli. The trek

itinerary combines the complete Kokoda wartime story along the

exact wartime Kokoda Track, with a world class, challenging,

jungle bushwalking experience and inspiring

cultural interaction with trek crew and

villagers you meet along the way.

$5,420.00* per person twin share departing

Adelaide (flights included).

Little Heroes Foundation: Kokoda Track

1 October 2017

Little Heroes Foundation raises funds towards essential equipment and services for seriously ill children and their

families.

We have raised close to $20 million dollars in 20 years for lifesaving facilities at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s

Hospital, and to provide daily support to families through our Little Heroes Care program. Join us on this rewarding

Kokoda trek and help raise money for Little Heroes Foundation!

What’s included in the price?

Return Economy Class flights Adelaide to Port Moresby via Brisbane

One night accommodation in Brisbane including breakfast

Return private airport transfers in Brisbane

One way flight between Port Moresby and Popondetta

Visa for Papua New Guinea including courier service

International airport arrival and departure transfers in Port Moresby

All necessary land transport in PNG including private transport from Port Moresby to Owers Corner and from Kokoda Village to Popondetta.

2 nights Port Moresby twin share accommodation at the Holiday Inn.

9 day/8 night trekking itinerary

Professional Australian Trek Leader

Local Head Guide, management team and trek crew from villages along the Track

9 days/8 nights accommodation along the Track, in spacious, individual mosquito proof tents which are provided and will be carried, erected and taken down by the trek crew…or you can stay in a village guest house at each of the campsites

Fresh dinners on trek hygienically prepared by the cooks, plus breakfast & lunch each trek day. No army or similar style ration packs

All personal eating utensils

All camp fees

Trek permit costs

Comprehensive history briefings at all war sites

All meals and camp fees for trek crew plus travel allowance and wages for crew

All emergency equipment including ropes, bush knives and axe, plus VHF radios and satellite phone linked 24 hours to our Port Moresby base ( for emergency use only) Hand held radios are linked to the Kokoda Track village radio network and the Kokoda Track Authority office

Visit to Bomana War Cemetery, entrance fee to Japanese Forest Fort at Eora Creek, Con’s Rock, mortar and grenade dump above Templetons and Brigade Hill

Commemorative embroided trekking shirt

Certificate of Achievement suitable for framing

Commemorative ceremony conducted on the summit of Brigade Hill

HOW HARD is trekking the Kokoda Track?

There is no beating around the bush – trekking the Kokoda Track is tough.

For many trekkers, completing the Track is a significant physical and mental achievement.

Occasionally, trekkers finish the trek and state that it was easier than they were lead to believe. This means that they were adequately prepared, fit and healthy.

If you are physically and mentally prepared before you begin your Kokoda Track trek, everything usually falls into place and you will enjoy your Kokoda trekking experience!

Day 1—Sunday 1 October

Adelaide to Brisbane

This afternoon depart Adelaide at 2.05pm for your flight to Brisbane arriving at 4.55pm. Upon arrival in Brisbane, you will be transferred to your hotel for the evening. Hotel TBC.

Day 2 - Monday 2 October

Brisbane to Port Moresby

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred back to

the airport for your flight to Port Moresby. The flight leaves

Brisbane at 10.40am to arrive Port Moresby at 1.50pm.

Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be met by a

representative of Backtrack and transferred to your

accommodation at the Holiday Inn Express. The hotel

complex features a swimming pool, restaurants, comfortable

bar areas and fully air-conditioned rooms with all facilities. A

Team briefing is held this afternoon to discuss final

preparations for the trek. In the early evening you will have a

Team Dinner before an early night to bed for a good sleep to

be prepared for an early morning departure on Day 2.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Tuesday 3 October

Ua Ule Creek

This morning depart Port Moresby for Owers Corner,

stopping at the Bomana War cemetery enroute. Trek over

Imita ridge to your jungle camp at Ua Ule Creek. It was on

Imita Ridge that the Australians dug in for what they thought

was to be their last stand against the advancing Japanese

forces. Having been blasted out of their hurriedly dug

defences above Ofi Creek on Irobaiwa Ridge, by a well

located Japanese mountain gun, the Australians retreated to

Imita Ridge and were now not prepared to give another inch.

It was at this point that the Japanese forces were ordered

to retreat and the second phase of the Kokoda campaign

commenced which involved the Aussies pushing the

apanese back onto the northern beaches where they had

landed 6 months earlier.

This is also the site of what was known as the ‘Golden

Staircase’. There are 3 paths from the Goldie River to the

summit of Imita Ridge. Each were used by the Australian

forces. The steeper sections were improved by cutting

steps and reinforcing them with timbers cut from the

forest. Today the timber reinforcing has long since rotted

away. There are those who believe (and diary records to

support the view) that there were several staircases

constructed on steeper sections of these early ridges

encountered on the trek towards Kokoda.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Wednesday 4 October

Nauro Village

You start early today so you can walk at a slow and relaxed

pace. Ascend the north slope and then descend the south

slope of Imita ridge where you have lunch and swim in Ofi

Creek.

Today as you explore the Japanese positions, recall that it

was here that the Japanese soldiers were pounded for the

first time by Australian artillery located at Owers Corner.

The Australian forces till now had no counter to the

Japanese mountain guns so skillfully used against them

since Isurava. The Japanese offensive/defensive positions

are located on a number of trails over Irobaiwa Ridge.

Your Trek Leader will show you the rarely visited Kunai

grass clearing which marks the furthest point of contact

made by Australian troops with General Hori’s South Sea

Forces. In this clearing a large heavily armed Japanese

advance patrol was wiped out in a hastily planned ambush

by an opposing Australian patrol, who luckily heard the

Japanese officer talking as he moved his men down the

trail. It was also on Irobaiwa Ridge, with Port Moresby

nearly in sight, that General Hori received orders directly

from the Emperor, to withdraw. With major shortages of

munitions, food and reinforcements and being pounded by

Australian artillery and harassed by well-equipped

Australian patrols, the Japanese army retreated with the

Australians in hot pursuit.

After lunch, a steep ascent of the Maguli ranges to your

campsite in Nauro Village, located on the slopes below the

summit on the descending trail into the Brown River valley.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Thursday 5 October

Menari Village

After breakfast, you commence a long descent of the

Maguli Range. As the Australians retreated, ascending the

long never ending slopes of the Maguli Range broke the

heart of many an exhausted soldier. On the northern side

of the range you now enter the sometimes swampy flood

plains of the Brown River. Cross the Brown River and

continue over a steep spur into your campsite in the

beautiful village of Menari.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Friday 6 October

Naduri Village

This morning you climb Brigade Hill and conduct a brief,

dignified ceremony on the summit in honour of the

soldiers and in remembrance of their bravery.

A steep descent follows into the Village of Efogi and then

a short sharp ascent to your home village of Naduri.

Your trek leader will point out the paths taken by the

Japanese forces on their famous’ ‘night time lantern

procession’. This now legendary procession, lit by

burning lengths of cable stripped from Australian field

wireless lines, was undertaken on the eve of the battle of

Brigade Hill in an attempt to put fear into the hearts of

the 2/27 Battalion dug in on Mission Ridge. Time is taken

to explain and show how and where the Japanese

managed to cut the Australian defences which

eventually led to the Australian defenders having to

withdraw.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Saturday 7 October

Naduri Village

Today is the Sabbath and therefore a non-trekking rest

day. In respect for the wishes of the local people you do

not trek on the Sabbath. You have an opportunity to

catch up on your washing and enjoy mixing with the trek

crew and the village people.

You will be guided around Naduri Village to inspect some

of Back Track’s current Trekker Assistance Programmes.

BackTrack hopes to be able to provide trekkers with an

insight into village life during your stay.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Sunday 8 October

Templetons Crossing 2

Today cross the Kokoda saddle the highest point of your

trek at 2190 metres.

Once on the summit of the Kokoda Saddle, depending on

weather and Track conditions and available time, you may

select the option to take a rarely used jungle track that was

cut during the campaign by the Australians which will take

you down to the Myola lakes. These dry lake beds were, at

various times during both phases of the Kokoda campaign,

the site of one of the Australian Army’s major supply

depots. It was initially hoped that wounded would be able

to be airlifted from the lake sites especially during the

Australian withdrawal and that supplies would be able to

be flown here to avoid the long haul by native bearers.

Myola is most remembered as the site for low level

dropping of provisions by the Australian Air Force. Live

munitions, never recovered after misplaced air drops, can

still be discovered embedded in the exposed banks of the

creeks flowing across the lakes.

Once you cross the Kokoda Gap, descend into Eora Creek

valley on the northern side of the Owen Stanley ranges.

Your campsite is beautifully located on the side of this fast

running creek.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 - Monday 9 October

Alolo Village

From your campsite deep in the bottom of this narrow

steep sided valley, trek on to inspect the Japanese

positions in the Eora Creek Forest Fort.

The Japanese Forest Fort which incorporates The Lost

Battlefield, covers part of a high ridge with a commanding

position overlooking Eora Creek.

Your trek leader will explain the forts defensive

significance and how the battle to capture the fort

unfurled. You will explore the Japanese mountain gun and

heavy machine gun positions. Still clearly visible are large

quantities of munitions and artefacts. Many Australian

soldiers lost their lives fighting here, before the Japanese

retreated further back towards Kokoda. Until the Lost

Battlefield section of the Japanese Forest Fort has been

properly surveyed, documented and any human remains

identified and respectfully removed for proper burial, no

trekking companies will visit the higher section.

After you explore the lower areas of the fort it is a long

but relatively easy trek through thick forest and a short

steep ascent to Alolo Village your camp site for

tonight.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Your Trek Leader will detail the sequence of events of the 53rd

Battalion’s withdrawal and by pointing out the geography and

detailing the trail networks, explain the significance of this

withdrawal to the ultimate outcome of the battle at Isurava.

The 2/16 Infantry Battalion despatched to bolster the 53rd

Battalions defences were unable to make a significant impact

on slowing the Japanese advance from that flank. The 2/16th

and 53rd Battalion now found themselves having to regroup

with the withdrawing forces from Isurava to commence a

series of rear-guard, strategic defensive actions now part of

Australian military folklore.

Once you arrive on the valley floor, a short walk brings you to

the end of your trek at Kokoda. A farewell party with your crew

is held tonight.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 - Wednesday 11 October

Port Moresby

You depart early by truck for Popondetta airfield ,

approximately 4 hours drive towards the coast. Here you

board your scheduled Air Niugini flight and on arrival at Port

Moresby head to your hotel to clean up and

prepare for your last night’s celebrations. Your certificate of

completion will be awarded to you at dinner tonight.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12 – Thursday 12 October

Port Moresby to Adelaide

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the

airport for your flight home to Australia. Your flight is back via

Brisbane to arrive into Adelaide this evening. Welcome Home!

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Tuesday 10 October

Kokoda Station

Wake up early for your last full days trekking. It is a long

continuous descent all day. You stop and inspect the

memorial at the Isurava Battlefield.

Inspect Kingsbury’s Rock, the site of the action which

earned Private Bruce Kingsbury his Victoria Cross on 29

August 1942. During the height of the Battle of Isurava,

which featured full frontal Japanese mass assaults and

brutal hand to hand combat. Kingsbury, who was one of

the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun by

the Japanese, immediately volunteered to join a different

platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He

rushed forward firing his bren gun from his hip, clearing a

path through the enemy and inflicting a number of

casualties. Kingsbury was then seen to fall, shot by a

Japanese sniper (near Kingsbury’s Rock) and instantly

killed. His actions, in delaying the Japanese to give

sufficient time for the Australians to fortify their positions,

have been identified as what undoubtedly saved the Battal-

ion Headquarters, and He was awarded the Victoria Cross

as a result.

A full briefing is given on the now legendary 4-day battle of

Isurava. It was here that the 2/14th Infantry Battalion

arrived to support the 39th Militia Battalion and the legend

of ‘The Ragged Bloody Heroes’ was born. Within clear sight,

and only a short distance on the other side of the valley, a

parallel trail marks the locations of the 53rd Militia

Battalion’s defensive actions. This track was abandoned

before the onslaught of an overwhelming Japanese push up

that side of the valley while the Battle at Isurava, opposite,

was raging.

9 day/8 night trekking itinerary

Professional Australian Trek Leader

Local Head Guide, management team and trek

crew from villages along the Track

9 days/8 nights accommodation along the Track, in

spacious, individual mosquito proof tents which

are provided and will be carried, erected and taken

down by the trek crew…or you can stay in a village

guest house at each of the campsites

Fresh dinners on trek hygienically prepared by the

cooks, plus breakfast & lunch each trek day. No

army or similar style ration packs

All personal eating utensils

All camp fees

Trek permit costs

Comprehensive history briefings at all war sites

All meals and camp fees for trek crew plus travel

allowance and wages for crew

All emergency equipment including ropes, bush

knives and axe, plus VHF radios and satellite phone

linked 24 hours to our Port Moresby base ( for

emergency use only) Hand held radios are linked

to the Kokoda Track village radio network and the

Kokoda Track Authority office

Visit to Bomana War Cemetery, entrance fee to

Japanese Forest Fort at Eora Creek, Con’s Rock,

mortar and grenade dump above Templetons and

Brigade Hill

Commemorative embroided trekking shirt

Certificate of Achievement suitable for framing

Commemorative ceremony conducted on the

summit of Brigade Hill

** This itinerary follows the Track South to North

however may be changed to the North to South

Direction depending on participant numbers. Flight

times are subject to change.

PACKAGE COST $5,420.00 twin share

$435.00 single supplement

As part of trekking the Kokoda for Little Heroes

Foundation a fundraising component of $2,500.00

must be raised. Please contact Little Heroes in regards

to this fundraising component.

Personal porter

$640 additional payment for the services of

a Personal Porter who will carry all your gear on the

Track in a provided backpack. This is strongly

recommended if you are unsure of your ability to

carry at least 15kgs over uneven terrain and in

uncertain weather conditions. You will still need to

carry your day pack which will only weigh about

3-5kgs.

Cost Inclusions

Return Economy Class flights Adelaide to Port

Moresby via Brisbane

One night accommodation in Brisbane

including breakfast

Return private airport transfers in Brisbane

One way flight between Popondetta and Port

Moresby

Visa for Papua New Guinea including courier

service

International airport arrival and departure

transfers in Port Moresby

Peregrine Travel Centre Adelaide

P: 08 8223 5905

E: adventures@peregrinetravel.com.au

1/192 Rundle Street , Adelaide SA 5000

www.peregrinetraveladelaide.com.au

Little Heroes Foundation: Kokoda Track

$5,420.00 per person including flights

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PAYMENT

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Centre reserves the right to amend the tour cost if the exchange rate alters significantly.

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Bank: Westpac Bank

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After final payment, 100% cancellation fee applies.

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